Enterprise Sanborn Solar Project
OVERVIEWThe Enterprise and Sanborn Solar Projects are a complex of photovoltaic panels and battery energy storage facilities located on over 3,500 acres of private property near the town of Mojave, California.
Nate Jones was contracted to serve as Project Field Lead and Designated Biologist for the Project Incidental Take Permits. During a period of six months, over 100 individual biologists from four consulting companies were trained as needed in desert field techniques and Project specifics, then scheduled daily and managed to achieve compliance with Project permitting (CDFW).
SERVICES INCLUDED:Nate Jones served as the Lead Designated Biologist for the first large-scale permitting action (CDFW Incidental Take Permit) for western Joshua trees under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. Working with Ecocentric, Inc., he developed novel data collection protocols and provided field management (QA/QC) to achieve:
Over 4,000 individual Joshua trees located, characterized, and processed in accordance with CDFW guidance and protocols
Over 250 individuals successfully transplanted to mitigation properties
Initiated a post-transplant monitoring program to determine the success of the action
Protocol CDFW western burrowing owl surveys
Nest monitoring via direct observations and passive game camera
Passive exclusion with one-way doors for relocation off site
Desert kit fox den surveys
Den monitoring via direct observations and passive game camera
Passive exclusion for relocation off site
Desert tortoise presence/absence surveys of all parcels (none were located)
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) nesting bird surveys of all parcels
Active nest monitoring for breeding native birds, including sensitive desert species
Loggerhead shrike
LeConte’s thrasher
Western burrowing owl
Through sustained engagement and coordination, biologists succeeded in addressing over 50 active burrows and nests throughout all construction phases, and successfully kept the Project within permitted guidelines and on schedule for timely completion.
Wilder provided additional administrative support for key aspects of data management, GIS mapping, mitigation protocol development, and compliance reporting. Included in this was a Desert Tortoise Mitigation Plan for the 39-year Operations and Maintenance phase of this project.
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